The question of who’s going to go out of the Cubs rotation when Shōta Imanaga returns was probably answered Monday evening in St. Louis.

Ben Brown threw three very good innings and then got pounded, serving up four two-run homers and the Cubs were blown out 8-2 in their first 2025 meeting with their arch-rivals.

Brown and Matthew Liberatore matched zeroes for the first three innings. He struck out three in that span. Here he gets Masyn Winn on an offspeed pitch [VIDEO].

The fourth inning brought the first of the two-run homers, hit by Lars Nootbaar. Brown had retired the first two Cardinals in that inning before Willson Contreras doubled.

The Cubs got one run back in the top of the fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a double and scored on this single by Carson Kelly {VIDEO].

The Cubs actually had a chance for more runs in that inning. Nico Hoerner followed Kelly’s single with one of his own and one out later, Matt Shaw walked to load the bases. But Ian Happ hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Cardinals put the game away in the bottom of the fifth on two-run homers by Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson. Brown was left in the game to start the sixth and served up another two-run homer, this one by Nolan Gorman. There might have been a fifth Cardinals home run if not for this fantastic catch by PCA [VIDEO].

That ball, hit by Brendan Donovan, was off Michael Fulmer, who was making his Cubs re-debut, summoned from Triple-A Iowa before the game. That catch helped Fulmer throw two scoreless innings.

The Cubs scored a consolation run in the seventh. PCA led off with his second double of the game and one out later, Hoerner singled, with PCA stopping at third. PCA scored on this sac fly by Justin Turner [VIDEO].

This… this was not normal. The Cardinals entered the game with 74 home runs this season, ranked 24th. Comparison point: The Cubs were tied for 3rd with 113.

This was only the second four-homer game of the year for the Cardinals. Comparison point: The Cubs have 10 such games (seven with four, three with five).

And… you probably don’t want to hear this, but the Cubs have now allowed 17 home runs over their past five games. (They’ve also hit 14 over that span, and lost four of the five.)

I suspect Brown’s going to be optioned to Iowa when Imanaga is activated to start Thursday’s game. There, he can work on his game and hopefully return later in the year. Here’s more on Brown’s outing [VIDEO].

The off day next Monday will get the rotation back in line after the Houston series. Imanaga’s return will help, but the Cubs absolutely, positively need to go out and trade for a quality starting pitcher. Who will that be? Feel free to discuss.

Here’s the last word on this one from BCB’s JohnW53:

This is the fifth consecutive game in which the Cubs have allowed at least seven runs. Their last five-game streak of its kind was Sept. 18-22, 2014. Tonight’s game was their 1,601st since the last of those five.

The current streak is their ninth since 1901 of five games. They have had five of six games, the most recent June 18-24, 1999.

As the saying goes: “Flush this one and move on.” At least it was quick, just two hours, 10 minutes, tied for the second-fastest Cubs game this year. The Pirates did the Cubs a favor by defeating the Brewers Monday, so the Cubs’ lead over the Brewers (now tied with the Cardinals) remains at 3½ games.

The Cubs will look to even up the series Tuesday evening in St. Louis. Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs and Michael McGreevy gets the call for the Cardinals. Game time is 6:45 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.